Pumpkin Chili

Vegan Pumpkin Chili

• 2 bpa-free cans organic kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 to 3 cups pumpkin puree
• 1 cup frozen corn, non gmo
• 6 large tomatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper any color, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 zucchini, diced
• 1 squash, diced
• 1 cup veggie broth
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons chili powder (more if you like it hot)
• 2 teaspoons dried sage
• 1 teaspoon blackstrap molasses or maple syrup
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 
  

In a large sauce or soup pan, add olive oil. Saute garlic, celery, bell pepper, and onion over medium heat until onion is translucent. Add zucchini and squash and cook until tender, stirring often.

Add all other ingredients and increase heat. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Lower to a simmer, cover, and cook for 45 minutes to an hour, stirring occasionally.

Garnish with fresh sage leaves, sprinkle with vegan cheese, salt it to taste, and enjoy.

Also feel free to mix up the recipe. Use more fresh ingredients if you can, add a dash or two of cumin, or even add diced pumpkin in with the zucchini. Make it your own.

Dtox Junkie Wish List

Hi Dtox Junkies!  Hope this Holiday Shopping Guide helps you treat those you love or yourself better! 

1.  Sally B Glossies Intensify your natural lip color with Sally B's B Glossy Lip Gloss, a silky smooth gloss that adds a hint of color and shimmer to lips. Formulated with 98% certified organic, moisture-rich ingredients and soothing peppermint, our B Glossy Lip Gloss works to enrich lip health for lips that feel good and look even better.  Free of lead and petroleum-based ingredients.  at DTOX $18

2.  ILIA Lipstick combines organic ingredients with contemporary colors that can be layered to create your own personalized shade. iliabeauty.com at WAX at StudioPlex 659 Auburn Ave ATL 30312 $24

3. Compressed Mineral Eye Shadow The sheer, delicate mineral eyeshadow containing no FD&C dyes, talc, oil or alcohol, and will not irritate your eyelids. Deposit of colour is long-lasting and interchangeable as eyeliner.  labelladonna.com $20

4.  100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Mascara  100% natural, 100% vegetarian, colored with black tea and berry pigments.  Lengthens, separates, thickens and glosses lashes.  Water and smudge resistant.  100percentpure.com $18

1. CLEAN by Dr Alejandro Junger

2. THE CHINA STUDY by Dr. Colin Campbell and Thomas Campbell

3.  IN DEFENSE OF FOOD by Michael Pollan

4.  AllClad Slow Cooker crateandbarrell.com

5.  SLOW COOKER RECIPES AND MEALS COOKBOOK by C Elias

1.  DIY Whipped Body Butter Recipe  http://wellnessmama.com/6544/whipped-body-butter-recipe/

2.  Suntegrity SunscreenAn all-in-one natural Beauty Benefit cream that treats, hydrates, protects, primes and covers the skin.  Supercharged with youth-promoting antioxidants that fight free-radical damage, this cream also provides mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 30 coverage.odacite.com

3.  Sally B Skin Yummies Travel or Starter Kit Skincare travel or

starter kit Daytime Antioxidant Serum (.5 oz), Nighttime Antioxidant Serum (.5 oz), Tamanu Luxury Facial Cleanser (1 oz), Get Even Finishing Powder(.5 g jar), Tinted Moisturizer (.5 oz jar), Carrot Facial Dream Cream (.5 oz jar). We have shrunk down 6 of our most popular, skin loving products into easy-to-pack travel sizes.  at DTOX $48

4.  DIY Whipped Body Butter

1.  I LOVE Juice/Addicted to dtox TSHIRT at DTOX $24

2.  YOGASANA All Cotton Eco Friendly Healthy Yoga Mat woven in India.  Not into rubber smell and sure

 you're allergic to latex?  This is the mat for you for years to come!

https://yogasanamats.com/product/air-mat/ $95

3.  VIRUS ZEROThe Virus Zero Portable Air Sterilizer uses cutting-edge technology to sterilize air in your bedroom, office, or car (adapter included)!Forget costly replacement filters and target bacteria, viruses, allergens, mold, smoke, and volatile organic compounds using Samsung’s new S-Plasma Ion Technology. portable $199 or the mac daddy wall edition $1000 viruszerousa.com

4.  PLANET LUNCHBOX Looking for an eco and easy way to pack healthy meals?  Planet Box is the smart lunchbox that guides you in packing a well balanced meal quickly and easily.  Part bento box, part TV dinner tray, our segmented containers are the best way to pack delicious, no waste meals for school, work or on the go.  $39.95-$74.95  planetbox.com

5.  Dtox Love Sweatshirt $48 at DTOX

1.  Dtox Gift Card $1

2.  Dtox Bath Products Baths Salts, Body Brush, Sisal Body Gloves, Loofah, Facial Cloths $5-15

3.  YOGA w SHANNON 5 classes for $50; 10 classes for $85 Tuesdays 8:30 and Thursdays 9:15

4. DTOX Soup and Salad organic, alkaline ingredients 

5. DTOX Juice and Elixirs organic, alkaline ingredients

1.  Argan Oil Soap by Boîte a Savon at DTOX $9

2.  Steeping Mugs and Loose Leaf Tea organic, fair trade tea theteaspot.com $31.95

WISHING YOU HAPPINESS AND HEALTH DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AND IN THE COMING YEAR!

LOVE,

DTOX

Ode to NYFW: Supermodel Beauty Secrets

I'm the short one.  

It's NewYorkFashionWeek!  I still get excited in Atlanta.  

As a former model agent in NY, I learned a thing or two from the most beautiful women in the world.  

In early 2000, I learned about juicing.  It was during the Atkins Diet craze which never made common sense to me.  Eat this hulking piece of meat covered in cheese, slathered in mayo, but don't touch the lettuce or tomato.  Carolyn Murphy was doing it so that meant everyone else in the fashion industry was too. She was hot then.  Still is.  Doubt she's still doing Atkins though.  

There was a model, I cant remember her name, but she and her mom were really into juicing and the NY Times did an article that featured them.  They were neurotic about it though which really turned me off.  They said you can't mix carrot with apple and this with that or it won't work.  Well, again, that just didn't make sense for my life.  I choked down carrot juices when I could find them and felt good about it.  I began to experiment with my own juices at home and came up with some decent options that were way more appealing than just carrot juice.  

During this time, I learned from the successful models that worked everyday, looked beautiful each of those and planned to for the next 20-40 years, a few secrets.  What did they do?

Sleep

Exercise

Eat Healthy 

Supplements.  Turmeric.  Zinc.  Collagen Boosters.  Chlorophyll.  Omega 7.  Plant Phytonutrient Supplements. Resveratrol.  

This was 8 years ago.  Today, I am sure they are taking the natural form of these as they are now readily available and so much more potent and easily absorbed in their true forms.  

DTOX 
Turmeric : anti-inflamatory, antiseptic and antibacterial, natural liver detoxifier. Speeds up wound healing and assists remodeling of damaged skin.  Find it at DTOX in a Turmeric Elixir, Turmeric shot, Liquid Gold or our Green Soup. 

Zinc : prevents hair loss, cures pimples or acne, treatment for eczema, promotes synthesis of collagen and thereby it aids wound healing. Find zinc at DTOX in our raw, gluten free Oatmeal, raw Granola Bars , Cacao Milk, Acai Smoothie, Brazil Nut Milk and Liquid Gold, maple syrup in all our healthy Junk.

Collagen Boosters: Aloe Vera boosts and plumps collagen and elastin.  Find it at DTOX in an Aloe Elixir, Pink Juice or Pink Plus Juice.  

Chlorophyll: Oxygenates the blood giving color and glow.  It helps to rebuild and replenish red blood cells, boosting energy and increasing wellbeing almost instantly. Chlorophyll has the power to regenerate our bodies at the molecular and cellular level and is known to help cleanse the body, fight infection, help heal wounds, and promote the health of the circulatory, digestive, immune, and detoxification systems. Anti-carcinogenic, removes heavy metals, antiseptic. Find it at DTOX in a Wheatgrass Elixir or Shot, Green Juice, Red Juice and E3Live.

Plant Phytonutrient Supplements:  Holla!  Every DTOX Juice

My last day at Next in 2005, Miranda Kerr was being brought over from our New Faces to meet the head of my board, Maria Cognata, who would take her to Victoria Secret stardom.  

Miranda stopped by GMA in February 2013 to talk about her favorite organic green juice which contained kale, cucumber, E3Live, lemon, celery, and aloe.  She said that the drink is very alkalizing and energizing and makes her feel good. 

I'll have what she's having.  

Baking Healthy Junk with the Babies

Oatmeal Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

Not Raw, Not Vegan

 But they are Organic and Gluten Free

Since I maintained my mother of the year status by sending my boy to first day of third grade with no lunch*, I had to make it up to him somehow.

Enter healthier chocolate chip cookies for his lunch this week.

3/4 cup organic whole evaporated cane juice
2 sticks organic butter @ room temp
3 ripe bananas, mashed
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups gluten free flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp Himalayan pink salt
2 cups organic, gluten free, non GMO rolled oats
1 cup chocolate chips, (can use dairy, soy, nut free)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line baking sheet with wax paper.
Cream sugar and butter together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.  Mash the bananas, eggs and vanilla together and then add to butter mixture.  Blend well.
Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, clove and salt.  Slowly add to the butter mixture. With a spatula, mix in the oats and chocolate.
Bake 10-12 minutes.

*I was on my way with a great lunch at 10:45.  They had lunch at 10.  Who does that?

The Beauty of Doing Nothing

Bel Far Niente

Too often we forget to enjoy the fruits of our labor.  We aren't aware of what we've accomplished and don't revel in it.  Bigger, More, Now is a common theme in American society.  

Are you stopping every day to soak up the doing, to be aware of all you've accomplished or are you in constant motion forward? Is your workout taking you forward, literally?  Are you running,  spinning, lifting as your only means of exercise?  

  What is your workout routine doing for your mental health? 

It's time to stop and go backwards so you can stay neutral, balanced.  Gravity takes us forward all day.  Running, spinning, lifting are wonderful but we have to lengthen what we shorten to stay supple.  You can run 9 miles every day but eventually you will dry up and shrivel.  It's time to stop in a sweaty heap, lie on your belly and enjoy feeling your heart beat.  Make sure your joints get lubricated.  Twisting is essential to maintaining a supple spine.  Keep those intervertebral discs plump and juicy.  

I teach and practice power yoga that is challenging and sweaty, but I stop many times to enjoy the not doing.  I run several days a week.  I don't love it.  I have a block in my hood that is perfect though.  I run out my front door, down a hill, up a killer hill, and then enjoy stopping.  I walk a steady climb, usually lunges happen here, but mainly I enjoy my accomplishment of that killer hill during this walk.  So the first three streets are for my physical health and the fourth is for my mental health.  I do this block as many times as I can in 30 minutes.  Usually 5. 

There are so many ways to get healthy.  Start small.

It doesn't have to cost a penny either.  You say you don't have time?  I don't either.  But running out my front door and then going for 20-30 minutes is totally doable.  Chances are if you live in Atlanta, you have a block you can find to challenge yourself.  Do it twice. Try for three times the next day.  

So the next time savasana comes, don't hop up as soon as the teacher says Namaste.  Let your practice sink in.  Enjoy the not doing for 5-10 minutes minimum. In my class, it isn't an option.  I force you to relax, dammit.  

Namaste

Gluten Sensitive

As I sit here having finished that second piece of break up lasagna (more about that later), feeling every vein in my head and body pound, I am totally aware that I'm majorly gluten sensitive.  

What is gluten sensitivity?  Gluten sensitivity  is a spectrum of disorders, including celiac disease and wheat allergy, in which gluten has an adverse effect on the body. Symptoms include bloating, abdominal discomfort or pain, diarrhea, muscular disturbances and bone or joint pain.
Gluten gives elasticity to dough helping it to rise and to keep its shape. It is found in many staple foods in the Western diet. It is a protein composite found in wheat and other grains, including barley and rye  and processed foods thereof.  Gluten is not naturally occurring in corn, rice, or oats, but may be cross-contaminated by facilities that also process wheat, barley, or rye products.  

 I started my food journey 8 years ago after Salter was born.  I'd been getting migraines since my senior year in high school.  After he was born, to keep my milk supply up, I ate a huge bowl of oatmeal with bananas, blueberries and maple syrup each morning.  By midday, I felt like I had a brick on my head, tingly, achy, cranky and usually with some kind of aura in my left eye.  I was sure I had a brain tumor and headed to several doctors to confirm.  They were all generally dismissive and chalked it up to having a newborn but I knew better.  It was something in that bowl and I had to find out what.  After feeling the same way with Sunday pancakes which usually had blueberries and/or bananas, it was time to figure  it out.  TO make a long story short, I know today to avoid gluten and bananas are a migraine trigger for me as they are for many people.

This morning, after my lasagna last night, I lost all feeling in my feet and the big toe nails both looked blue.  Was sure I was dying again.  But instead, considering my divergent dinner the night before, decided to play Dr Google and found this article about peripheral neuropathy.

http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/CeliacNeuroSymptoms/a/Gluten-And-Neuropathy.htm

Did you ever let your foot fall asleep and suffer from numbness and then from a tingling, pins-and-needles sensation while it "awakened"? People with peripheral neuropathy suffer from those types of sensations — numbness and painful tingling — all the time. And there's growing evidence that peripheral neuropathy is linked with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. 

Neurological symptoms such as peripheral neuropathy, migraine and brain fog are even more common in non-celiac gluten sensitivity, according to the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research director Dr. Alessio Fasano, one of the lead researchers in the field of gluten sensitivity. 

I have learned through trial and error that when I stay within a plant based diet, juicing and drinking smoothies during the day and eating a plant based dinner, I thrive.  I have energy and creativity to work 18 hour days.  I never have a headache.  Even with stress I still sleep well.  Feeling like I do right now is so not worth it.

The DTOX Box 3-5 Day is a great way to clean the slate and slowly add back to figure out food sensitivities.  Don't overlook the food mood connection like I did.  Just take a closer look at what you're eating and how it's making you feel.

So, about the lasagna.  Tim and I were dating in college and I was going to break up with him after this dinner I owed him for letting me copy AutoCad homework.  I made Ratatouille Lasagna and after that we were all better and happily ever after, hence Break Up Lasagna.  We love it.  We did make it all the time.  At least once a month.  Haven't made it in over a year and made it for the Fourth.  It is a SLOW process to change the way you eat.  We have emotional attachments to out mom's mac and cheese or to grandmother's casseroles. Find ways to recreate those dishes in ways that don't make you feel bad.  In the meantime, here's that delicious recipe.   Will make this one with gluten free lasagna noodles next time.

Break Up Lasagna (Ratatouille)

EVOO 

3 Garlic Cloves

1/2 Onion

2 Squash

2 Zucchini

1 pint Mushrooms

1 Red, 1 Green, 1 Yellow pepper

2 Tomatoes diced

1 cup Spinach

Lasagna Noodles (Gluten Free)

 pint Ricotta

pint Cottage Cheese

1 Egg

 bag of Mozzarella

pint of Parmesan

 7 leaves of Basil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Put a couple rounds of olive oil in deep pan.  Saute' the garlic and then onion for several minutes.  Add squash, zucchini, peppers, and cook until nearly soft, 15 minutes.  Add mushrooms and tomatoes last.  Cook lasagna to package instructions.  In a separate bowl, mix ricotta with cottage cheese, parmesan, basil, pepper and egg. Layer noodles, then cheese mix, then veggies and repeat until used.  Cover top with mozzarella and bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.  

She and Salter both like this one.  

Peachtree Road Farmer's Market

Saturday 8-12
Peachtree Road at St Phillip Cathedral

Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus

I love this hummus from Simply Fresh.  They have the yummiest prepared foods.  Southwest Quinoa is a family favorite.  I was on the liver cleanse so this hummus with cucumbers was on my approved eating list.  

 Souper Jenny

Swing by Souper Jenny for chicken chili to make date night easy.  Much healthier than Papa Johns for the kids.

Organic Chow Chow from Doux South

I added this to my liver cleanse soup to spice it up.  So good.  I ate a jar of pickled spicy green tomatoes too.  

Storico Fresco Pasta

If I'm going to eat pasta, which I wasn't bc I was on the liver cleanse, but if my kids are, I want it to be the best.  This is.  Storico Fresco imports premium grains, flours and cheeses from Italy, and their organic farms use Italian seeds to grow fresh herbs and produce.

Sunday Dinner 

Pi Fasacc Pasta made with taleggio, grans padona, handmade ricotta and herbs.  Quick dinner.

Steam broccoli and carrots.  Boil water.  Turn down and add pasta for a few minutes.  Toss with pesto, sliced cherry tomatoes and green olives.  Magnifique!

Get out there Saturday and enjoy something new!

Easy Breakfast

DTOX Almond Milk

Chia Seeds

Frozen Blueberries

It may take 1 minute longer than pouring a bowl of cereal, but oh so much healthier of a way to start your and your children's day.  

So easy.

Atlanta Farmers Markets 2013

This weekend was a little nippy, but totally beautiful.  Went for a run Saturday morning, Dtox Skin Cleanse delivery waiting  when I got home. Headed out to Piedmont Park Farmers Market but it wasn't happening bc of Dogwood Festival so we went to Morningside Farmer's Market instead.

Morningside Farmers Market is open year round, every Saturday from 7:30 am to 11:30 am (April 1st – December 31st), and 8:00 am to 11:30 am in the winter (January 1st – March 31st). Chef demonstrations begin at the market in mid-April and continue through November. Please check the Events Page for details on other special events throughout the season.
1393 N. Highland Ave
Atlanta GA 30306

Checked out Woodland Gardens and bought 2 English cucumbers, rosemary and fennel.

. 

 

 

Ran into one of my favorite people, Flournoy Holmes.

 


 The girl loves the pastries at Alon's so we hit that before leaving. 

 



Stopped by Atlanta Activewear for some new duds to make it all perfect. Donna Burke(@yogainheels) was so sweet to my tiny shoppper who rearranged her whole store "helping mommy try on everything pink."


 



Dtox Farm trip to okay tree cuttings











Dogwood Festival and then dinner out with the kids.  Typical jampacked "offday".

 SUNDAY:  What's for Dinner?

How to use the farmers market purchase? 

English cucumbers were eaten with hummus for lunch-along with strawberries, almond butter and the marshmallows from some "organic" Lucky Charms selection from Whole Foods. 

Decided to make cole slaw with fennel and rosemary retox drinks.



 Ume Plum Vinegar anyone? If you get an unhelpful person in Whole Foods, they'll say "all our vinegars are there. If not there, 'sorry'. " If you get a helpful person, they will call on that walky talky and find out that it is actually in a totally different section and take you there or bring it to you.

.


Juiced Lemon, Lime, Ginger for ReTox Juice.  Blueberry Fizz with Presecco





Ginger Rosemary Syrup

 

His was with apple cider.

My julienne skills are lacking.

 

Okay-so not the most beautiful dinner, but the briny, salty tartness of the Ume Plum vinegar was a great contrast to the sweet fingerling potatoes.  Dinner was missing one other item but we were enjoying or blueberry fizzes so. 

Cole Slaw
1 large green cabbage
Ume plum vinegar
1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
3 carrots, julienned
1/2 red onion (ommitted)
6 small radishes sliced into matchsticks
1/4 cup soy free vegannaise

Cabbage sliced into thins strips.  Place in large bowl and sprinkle generously with ume plum vinegar.  Cover and let sit for 2 hours.  Stir every 30 minutes.  Cabbage will break down considerably.

When done, tranfer cabbage to a collander, rinse and drain to remove excess vinegar.  Dry and return to bowl.  Add fennel, carrots, onion and radish  and toss to combine.  Fold in mayo to evenly coat, then serve.  Store leftovers for up to 5 days  refrigerated in air tight container. 

Serves 6

UPDATE: I forgot the main reason I bought the fennel-to juice it. We dont use it at the store bc it isn't readily available but I did use it on Better Mornings Atlanta when I juiced. We called it Better Mornings Juice.

Better Mornings Juice Recipe
1/2 green apple
4 carrots
3 fennel stalks, include leaves and flowers
1/2 cucumber
1 handful spinach
1 inch ginger
(however I was nervous and put a handful of ginger and almost killed the poor man)

Dtox: SO YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CAKE AND JUICE IT TOO

I like to make my children's birthday cakes.  I always have.  I'm pretty good at it and they always love to help me do it.  I like to bake with them.  Granted we don't do food coloring anymore (look for a post eventually about coloring with beets, eggplants, turmeric, etc) and it's hard to really figure out gluten free and dairy free baking sometimes, but I'm trying.  But, like this weekend, I just bought the box and whipped it out.  I did make my own icing though.  When I bake, I end up over indulging in batter and icing and cake.  But that's okay because.....

There is DTOX on Monday morning. 

I like juicing for the same reasons that I like yoga-they are both reliable and they work.    They both make me look and feel my best.  They are both convenient.  When you have your juices for the day, there is no looking for lunch or making bad choices once hunger sets in. 

With yoga and juicing, I know that I can enjoy my Easter weekend of indulging because I will work it all out the following week.  I'm being proactive about my health and wellness and the lovely side effect of staying trim is a definite plus.  You can stray from yoga, you can stray from juicing but they are always there to come back to over and over and over again. Knowing this helps me enjoy my life without guilt.

So you can have your cake and juice it too!

Salter's 8th Easter Party

MaryElle's 3rd Purple Party

EAT PRAY LOVE

The first night after my blog post, we ended up at our second kitchen, Metro Fresh. Big fat fail. I worked 5am-6pm and didn't feel like cooking!

This is what a  healthy Trader Joes buggy should look like.  Must share this blog with Tim.  :/

 

Spinach, kale mix, avaocado, green beans, potato, tomatoes, goat cheese.  We used Trader Joes Orange Muscat Champagne Vinegar as our dressing. 

Organic potatoes, frozen green beans, easily steamed and cooked.  All the "cooking" involved. 

Eaten UP!

My new moto, EAT PRAY LOVE, not entirely orginal but it's what I'm trying to remember to get my priorities straight. 

EAT- To me this reminds me that feeding my family and eating together as much as possible is my new priority.  I love to eat and cook.  I love to eat everything and I want my children to have favorite meals that I do. 

PRAY-I want to pray with my children every night.  I want to teach them that praying isn't asking for things.  It's being thankful for your blessings and asking for other's needs to be met.  Pray to me means doing something for someone else and I want to do that every day. 

LOVE-Love is patient, love is kind.  For me to be either, mostly patient, I have to work out every day.  So that I can love fully, I have to love myself first and take care of me too. 

Now, what's for dinner?

I've been busy trying to make Atlanta healthy and my family has suffered.  We are eating out most nights and have decided ENOUGH!  TOO EXPENSIVE.  So Tim, super dad, god bless him, went grocery shopping.  He thinks anything from Trader Joes is healthy.  On the counter was Trader Joes equivalent of Cheerios, Ritz Crackers and Rice Crispies.  What I found in the freezer really gave me heart palpitations.  Turkey corndogs, mini-pizzas, shrimp stirfry, stir fried vegetable rolls, battered fish nuggets and chicken nuggets.    At this rate, I am setting my children up for a lifetime of bad eating habits and possibly diabetes and other problems. 

I am blogging to confess my working mom guilt and to be held accountable to "cook" each night.  I hope to come up with some good ideas that helps your busy family eat better too. 

Wish me luck!